Acoustic manifold



Nov. 21, 1967 T. A. SCANLON ACOUSTIC MANIFOLD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1965 F/G'. 2 INVENTOR THOMAS A. SCAN/.0 BY M A TTOR/VE) Nov. 21, 1967 T. A. SCANLON 3,353,625

ACOUSTIC MANIFOLD Filed Nov. 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v VE/VTOH THOMAS A. SCANLON ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,353,625 ACOUSTIC MANIFOLD Thomas Aloysius Scanlon, Barrington, R.I., assignor to PM & E Electronics, Inc., Providence, R.I., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Nov. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 509,820

- 11 Claims. (Cl. 181-31) The present invention relates to a speaker assembly for utilization in automobiles and the like but not limited thereto. More particularly, the present invention relates to a speaker assembly which may be mounted within the confines of a motor vehicle or the like having means for distributing sound emanating therefrom.

The concept of providing a rear speaker for an automobile is well-known. However, such a speaker is merely utilized to reinforce the sound emanating from the radio and speaker associated together in the dashboard of the automobile. While the rear speaker is for the convenience of the passenger sitting in the rear of the car, no provision is made for insulating the driver or passengers from the sound emanating from a radio speaker when they do not wish to be disturbed.

' Consequently, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an ingenious arrangement for producing sounds which sounds may be distributed only to interested persons.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a speaker assembly having plug-in means so that individuals may selectively listen to sounds being produced by the speaker in the speaker assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the persent invention will become apparent in reading the following description in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view showing the utilization of the speaker assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the speaker assembly of the present invention from the bottom having the bottom cover plate in disassociation.

FIG. 3 is a cros sectional view through the speaker assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the valve means for distribution of the sound. p

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 55 .Of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 showing the operation of the valve means as it is being utilized.

Now, turning to the drawings for a more detailed consideration of the invention attention is directed to FIG. 1 for a general review of the concept inherent in the invention. It will be noted that the speaker assembly of the present invention, shown generally by reference numeral 11, is mounted on the shelf 12 behind the rear seat of a passenger automobile or the like. It will be appreciated that the present inventive concept and device is not limited to this location and operation. The speaker assembly 11 has a flat bottom portion with a bottom cover plate 13 (not seen in FIG. 1). The top is arcuate from the left side to the right side of the drawing as shown. Additionally, the speaker assembly 11 has a fiat vertical front end wall 14 and a similar rearwardly facing wall not shown. Suitable apertures 15 may be seen as being positioned at either end of the speaker assembly 11 for fastening screws 16 with which the speaker assembly 11 is secured to the shelf 12. An input jack 17 is positioned at both end walls as can be seen in the front wall 14. The input jack 17 is the usual conventional means for accepting a male plug (not shown) which is connected electrically to an audio source such as the radio of the automobile or the like.

One of the ingenious features of the present invention may be seen from the inclusion of a plurality of ports 9,

each having mounted therein a recessed valve 18 into which a tube means, generally, 19 which with the valve 18 is adapted to communicate with the interior of the speaker assembly 11 and the T-connector 20 which divides the tube means 19 into a left tubular arrangement 21 and a right tubular arrangement 22. These tubular arrangements terminate in ear pieces 23 which are inserted in the ear of an individual in the same manner akin to a stethoscope.

Not shown in FIG. 1 is a speaker which is mounted with in the speaker assembly 11 of the present invention. At this point, then, it is propitious to consider the internal structure of the speaker assembly 11. Consequently, attention is directed to FIG. 2 for a further review. It will be noted that the speaker assembly 11 has been turned on one side and the bottom cover plate 13 has been removed to lie perpendicular to its normal position when it is secured to the speaker assembly 11. The bottom cover plate 13 is secured to the body portion of the speaker assembly 11 through a plurality of apertures 30 which permit screws to pass therethrough for fastening into holes 31 in the corners and along the bottom of the speaker assembly. Additionally, it will be noted that insulation and sound absorbing material 32 is adhesively secured along the major portion of the bottom plate 13. Additional insulation is secured at the end of the body portion of the speaker assembly as at 33. When the bottom cover plate 13 is in place it will be noted that a central chamber is defined in the speaker assembly 11. Within the chamber is mounted a conventional electrodynamic speaker 34 which is electrically connected by wires 35 and 36 to jack inputs 17.

Suitable recesses, for instance 37 and 38, are provided in the insulation 32 to accommodate protruding portions of the speaker 34 and jack inputs 17. The speaker is mounted on a baffle 39 having a suitable sized opening to accommodate the speaker.

At this point, to show the arrangement of the speaker 34 within the speaker assembly 11, attention is directed to FIG. 3. This figure being a cross-sectional view is an excellent representation of the internal structure of the speaker assembly 11 of the present invention. It is pointed out that the speaker 34 is mounted in a baffle 39, as was stated. The baiiie 39 extends across the entire speaker assembly 11 to partition the speaker assembly 11. Above the speaker and in the arcuate top portion 10 one can see the plurality of ports 9 with valves 18 for accommodation of tube means 19. Each of the valves 18 contain means effectively closing the speaker assembly 11 until it is opened upon the insertion of tube means 19. More about this will be explained later. However, of extreme importance to the carrying out of the concepts of the invention is the fact that the valves 18 are normally closed, thereby fulfilling their function with the arcuate top 10 and the baflle 39 to produce a completely enclosed sound chamber 40. The baffle 39 and the bottom cover plate 13 define a chamber within the housing 10 within which the rear of the loudspeaker 34 is disposed. The latter chamber is substantially filled with sound absorbing material, 32 and 33, and thereby prevents the sound from the rear of the loudspeaker from interfering with and cancelling the sound produced by the front of the loudspeaker. The loudspeaker is in effect mounted within an enclosure usually referred to as having an infinite bafile. It is known that a speaker housing with an infinite baflle provides resonance not usually expected from a rather small speaker arrangement. Only upon the opening of the valve 18 by means of the insertion of tube 19 against the stem of valve 18 does one permit the communication of the sound chamber 40 with external means.

For a further detailed consideration of the valve 18, attention is directed to FIGS. 4 and 5. It will be noted that FIG. 4 is a top plan view of valve 18. FIG. 5, a vertical cross sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG- URE 4, illustrates that valve 18 comprises a pop valve having a cylindrical tube body 41 provided exteriorly with a circular flange 42A and interiorly with a centrally located opening 42 in a flange 46 which divides tube body 41 into an upper chamber 468 and a lower chamber 46D.

Shelf 46A is the base of upper chamber 46B and shoulder 47 forms one end of lower chamber 4D. A plug, generally indicated at 45, and provided with a radial collar 45A comprises a stem 44 having a base 44A and a protruding portion 49. Stem 44 is slidably mounted in central opening 42. A ring 50 provided with a sound orifice 50A is fastened in a counterbore 51 located in tube body 41, as by means of a drive fit. A coil spring 48 is located in lower chamber 46D with one end abutting ring 50 and with the opposite end surrounding protruding portion 4% and abutting radial collar 45A.

Circular flange 42A is fastened to the inside peripheral portion of arcuate top assembly 11 and within aperture 9, as by means of an adhesive with face 43 of circular flange 42A engaging the underside of arcuate top 10. Radial collar 45A is urged into engagement with shoulder 47 by means of coil spring 48 to sound seal lower chamber 46D from upper chamber 4613.

Tube means 19 has attached thereto a more rigid extension means, shown generally by reference numeral, 60. Tube means 19 is attached to the more rigid extension means 61 by encompassing, concentrically, an upwardly extending portion 61. A radially extending flange 62 limits the movement of tube 19 onto means 60. Further, the flange 62 also limits the degree of insertion of the lower portion 63 of rigid means 60 into the upper chamber 46B of the valve 18.

It will be noted from FIG. 6 that in operation the insertion of rigid extension means 63 attached to the end of tube 19 depresses stern 44 thereby unseating the plug 45 and compressing helical spring 48. The sound being produced by the speaker 34 is then permitted to pass through valve 18 and through tube 19 to the headset made up of left and right tubular arrangements 21 and 22.

Due to the fact that the other valves not fitted with tube 19 or the like do not permit sound to escape therefrom avoids the destruction of resonance as would occur if no valves were employed and there was direct access externally of the manifold. The use of the rigid means 19 to open one or more valves 18 does not destroy the resonance due to the elongated nature of such means.

The materials for constructing the device of the present invention may be plastics and the like since they lend themselves well to such fabrication while providing a pleasing appearance,

It will be apparent that many changes and modifications of the several features described herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore apparent that the foregoing description is by way of illustration of the invention rather than limitation of the invention.

What is claimed is: I I

1. An acoustic manifold comprising a closedrhousing, a speaker mounted in said housing, said speaker being adapted to be electrically connected to an audio source, a plurality of valve means within said housing for communication with the interior thereof.

2. The acoustic manifold of claim 1 wherein a baffle supports said speaker, said baflle partitioning said hous- 3. The acoustic manifold of claim 2 wherein said valves are located in front of said speaker.

4. The acoustic manifold of claim 1 wherein the valves are normally closed.

5. The acoustic manifold of claim 4 wherein the valves are pop valves.

6. The acoustic manifold of claim 2 wherein sound absorbing material substantially fills the area partitioned by said baflle and in which said speaker is disposed formin g an infinite baffle sound chamber.

7. The acoustic manifold of claim 5 wherein the pop valve has a T-shaped stern adapted to be actuated by insertion of plug means into a forward extending portion of the valve.

8. The acoustic manifold of claim 3 wherein the rear of said speaker is substantially enclosed by sound -ab sorbing material.

9. The acoustic manifold of claim 3 wherein the housing has an arcuate configuration along the top thereof and said valves are mounted in apertures therein.

10. The acoustic manifold of claim 9 wherein the housing has at least one jack input means mounted on at least one side thereof, said jack input means being electrically connected to said speaker.

11. The acoustic manifold of claim 1 wherein sound conduit means is connected to said valve means for transmitting sound emanating from said speaker to a remote point.

References Cited UNITED, STATES FATE-NTS 526,046 9/1894 McKelvey 1 1- 24 1,107,471 8/1914 Yerkes 1 1-18 1,366,983 2/1921 Waller 18-1-48 2,541,164 2/1951 Huenlich 1s-1 18 2,588,086 3/1952 Cole 181-43 X STEPHEN L-TOMSKY, Primary Examiner, 

1. AN ACOUSTIC MANIFOLD COMPRISING A CLOSED HOUSING, A SPEAKER MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING, SAID SPEAKER BEING ADAPTED TO BE ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO AN AUDIO SOURCE, A PLURALITY OF VALVE MEANS WITHIN SAID HOUSING FOR COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR THEREOF. 